In Germany, many environmentalists celebrated the closing of a second nuclear reactor. The closing is part of an agreement between the German government and electric utilities that was concluded back in 2000.

A few weeks ago, we noted that this move may be more costly than some proponents are willing to admit. In addition, the utility executive who negotiated the original agreement with the government said that it was inevitable that Germany would have to turn back to nuclear energy in order to meet aggressive targets on cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Jay Currie has further thoughts.

For a look at the dynamics that are helping to create an unlikely alliance between environmentalists and those concerned with national security, check out Futurepundit. For more, check out EV World.

Thomas John Munsch Jr., the attorney who oversaw the licensing of the Shippingport Nuclear Power Plant, died on May 11. He was 92. Our condolences to his family and friends.

With uranium prices setting new record highs, we shouldn't be surprised at the news that another uranium mine is being re-opened, this time in Wyoming.

Don Ritchie, noting that he lives close enough to San Onofre to see the blinking red warning lights atop the plant's towering containment domes, said he does not fear nuclear catastrophe or the radioactive waste stored there.

"I haven't had the tiniest concern," Ritchie said. "As far as I'm concerned, if they want to put in a Unit 3, it's fine with me."

The license renewal process is a template for how industry and the NRC can successfully work together. I consider license renewal to be the largest regulatory challenge since initial plant licensings. License renewal has been a role model for industry, the regulator, and other stakeholders to learn from when pursuing licensing new reactors.

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The following is a guest post from Matt Wald, senior communications advisor at NEI. Follow Matt on Twitter at @MattLWald.

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